“Swarming Attacks” suggest new pirate tactics August 19, 2011
Posted by Chris Mark in Uncategorized.Tags: Chris Mark, gulf of aden, InfoSec, maritime piracy, Maritime Security, Piracy & Maritime Security, somali pirates, Somalia
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On August 7th, 2011 IMB reported an attack on a ship in the Red Sea in which it appeared that pirates were banding together and ‘swarming’ to attack vessels. This wolfpack type attack was brushed off by some in the security industry. On August 18th, 2011 the IMB live reporting system reported another such attack. In this attempted hijacking 7 high speed boats filled with 3-5 men, each armed with automatic swarmed a ship in an attempt to hijack the vessel. As this attack was only 27km from the previous attack the implication is that pirate groups may be operating in distinct areas.
On a more fundamental level this new type should not come as a surprise. Security and risk theory holds that as long as the the perceived payoff exceeds the perceived risk, criminals will continue to attempt to circumvent controls. As controls change, criminal tactics will change in response. Given that the average ransom paid exceeded $3 million in 2010 it is not expected that pirates will give up their attempts at hijackings for farming any time soon. Shipping companies would be well advised to consider that pirate attacks will continue to increase in violence and tactics will continue to evolve in response to security controls being employed.
Pirate Attack Thwarted After Gun Battle August 16, 2011
Posted by Chris Mark in Uncategorized.Tags: Chris Mark, gulf of aden, gulf of aden security, InfoSec, Piracy & Maritime Security, somali pirates, Somalia
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Somali pirates attempted to board a ship in the Indian Ocean on Monday night and were stopped after a short gun battle by the security forces on board. The pirates in two speedboats fled after the short exchange of gunfire. The important point to be taken from this example is that armed security is effective and does not need to be lethal. Pirates are rational actors and as such, they are not going to engage in a lengthy gun battle and risk loss of life to board a ship with professionally trained security when there are thousands of unarmed vessels in the region. In this example, gunfire was exchanged and nobody was hit, wounded, or killed. The exchange alone was enough to deter the would be hijackers.
Somali Pirates release Maltese Bulk Carrier August 15, 2011
Posted by Chris Mark in Piracy & Maritime Security.Tags: Chris Mark, Maritime Security, Piracy & Maritime Security, somali pirates, Somalia
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So
mali pirates released 52,466-tonne vessel MV Sinin along with its crew of 22 — 12 Iranians and 10 Indians after ransom was paid for the ship. The ship had been hijacked in February, 2011. According to U.S. think-tank One Earth Foundation, the average ransom per ship in 2005 was $150,000. By 2010, it had jumped to an average of $5.4 million per ship, with large cargo vessels and oil tankers a popular targets.
Piracy Costs World Economy $12 Billion US August 12, 2011
Posted by Chris Mark in Piracy & Maritime Security.Tags: Chris Mark, Maritime Security, Piracy & Maritime Security, somali pirates, Somalia
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It is no secret that maritime piracy is a growing problem. Pirate attacks are increasing in violence and frequency and it is taking an economic toll. In 2009 an estimated $177 million was paid in ransom to pirates and in 2010 the estimate is that ransoms had grown to $240 million. According to the IMO there were 489 reports of attacks, armed robberies and attempted attacks in 2010. This represented a 20% increase over 2009. The increasing costs of insurance premiums, anti-piracy security and other aspects are estimated to have an overall impact to the world economy of between $7 and $12 billion US. Adding to the challenges is the increasingly frequent attacks on the West Coast of Africa. According to the IMO there were 18 reported attacks off the coast of Nigeria in the first half of 2011. While the numbers don’t rival those of Somalia, it is suspected that many attacks go unreported as a larger percentage of ships are carrying illegal oil and other cargo. London-based Lloyd’s Market Association, an umbrella group of insurers, earlier this month listed Nigeria, neighbouring Benin and nearby waters in the same risk category as Somalia.
Were 17 Algerian sailors abducted by Somali pirates killed? August 10, 2011
Posted by Chris Mark in Uncategorized.Tags: Armed escort, Chris Mark, gulf of aden, gulf of aden security, InfoSec, maritime piracy, Maritime Security, Piracy & Maritime Security, risk management, somali pirates, Somalia
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The MV Blida, an Algerian-flagged bulk carrier with a crew of 27, including 17 from Algeria, was captured in January 2011 by Somali pirates around 150 miles southeast of Salalah in southern Oman.
Recent reports indicate that the seventeen seafarers have been killed by Somali pirates, however Algeria denied on Sunday reports over the death of its seventeen sailors abducted in Somalia, saying the 17 Algerian sailors were safe and sound.
Algerian Foreign Ministry spokesman, Amar Belani, was quoted by the Algerian official news agency (APS) as saying that they have made the required contacts, and it appeared that all their compatriots abducted by Somali pirates are safe and sound.
Belani rubbished the reports about the sailor’s death saying that there are hopeful that all the sailors would be able to confirm sooner to their relatives that they’re alive, emphasizing that authorities will keep working to free them as soon as possible.
The Algerian Foreign Ministry had promised family members of the abducted sailors to free them in July, noting that the government stood firmly against paying any ransom to the pirates.
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